In this Article

• What are hemorrhoids?
• What causes hemorrhoids?
• What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids?
• How are hemorrhoids diagnosed?
• How are hemorrhoids treated?
• General measures
• Over-the-counter medications for hemorrhoids
• Nonoperative procedures for internal hemorrhoids
• Surgical procedures
• Hemorrhoids At A Glance
• Patient Discussions: Hemorrhoids - Effective Treatments
• Hemorrhoids Glossary
• Hemorrhoids Index

Hemorrhoids at a Glance

• Internal hemorrhoids are clumps of tissue within the anal canal that contain blood vessels, muscle, and elastic fibers. External hemorrhoids are enlarged blood vessels surrounding the anus.
  
  
• Internal hemorrhoids cause problems when they enlarge. The cause of the enlargement is not known.
  
  
• Complications of internal hemorrhoids include bleeding, anal itchiness, prolapse, incarceration, and gangrene. Pain is not common.
  
  
• The primary complication of external hemorrhoids is pain due to blood clotting in the hemorrhoidal blood vessels.
  
  
• When dealing with hemorrhoids, it is important to exclude other diseases of the anus and rectum that may cause similar symptoms such as polyps, cancer, and diseases of the skin.
  
  
• Treatment of hemorrhoids includes over-the-counter topical medications, sclerotherapy, rubber band ligation, heat coagulation, cryotherapy, anal dilation, Doppler ligation, sphincterotomy, and surgical hemorrhoidectomy.
  
  
• The newest treatment for hemorrhoids is stapled hemorrhoidectomy.

Hemorrhoids - Effective Treatments

The MedicineNet physician editors ask:

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